Video games near top of most wish lists, Santa finds

Local retailers said Easy-Bake Ovens, Legos and LeapPads are among the top gift requests this year. Those items, along with video games and Elmo dolls, garnished the wish list from the 136 children who attended Saturday morning’s Breakfast with Santa at the Pilgrim Senior Center at 27 Pilgrim Parkway.

But some children may be getting less conventional gifts this year, especially Bradin, 5, and Korbin Anderson, 3, as their mother Diana is pregnant. She is due on Dec. 30 but is wondering if her baby girl will be born early.

“I want to make sure I’m home on Christmas,” she said. “That’s what I want from Santa.”

Of course, the boys were also concerned about their wish lists and said the best part about Christmas is “getting presents.”

“We want more video games for our DSiXL,” they said of their handheld Nintendo gaming devices.

Kassidy Roche, 3, and her sister Eden, 18 months, also attended the event. While Kassidy has her heart set on a LeapPad, a learning tablet for children, Eden would like an Elmo doll.

No matter what, there is one other thing Kassidy is looking forward to.

“Going to see Grammy,” she said.

There were also a few requests for musical instruments. Cole Curran, 4, would like a harmonica, and Mikalyn Tonry, 10, wants a drum set.

But a typical drum set won’t do. This one must be purple and have kitty cats on it, as she and her friends recently formed a band. While they haven’t decided what type of music they’re going to play, Mikalyn has a good idea.

“I’m pretty sure it’s going to be hip-hop,” she said.

As for her favorite part of Christmas, she said, “Putting up and looking at all the pretty decorations.”

Other children asked for classic, predictable gifts, such as Rylee Bernard, 4, who wants a sled and an Easy-Bake oven; Hayley Collins, 7, is hoping for a Justin Bieber comforter set; and Lilly Pigeon, 3, would like a rainbow My Little Pony as well as rainbow cups.

It seemed Emily Pacheco, 5, also wanted traditional toys when she asked Santa for Barbie Dolls. However, she threw in a twist when she requested a “real horse.”

“I’ll keep it in the front yard,” she said.

Katie Kirwin, 3, said the decorations are the best thing about Christmas. While she told an elf she wants a dollhouse, she informed Santa of something entirely different.

“Cheese,” she whispered to him.

However, it’s possible that she was simply preparing to have her photo taken. Nevertheless, her father Doug said she was excited to see Santa.

“She was up early this morning ready to go,” he said.

But children weren’t the only ones who stopped by to visit St. Nicholas, as a few adults also perched on his lap. Among them were Priscilla Longo and Donna Johnson, who said she visits the center for various activities including bingo, quilting and sewing.

“I hang out here every day,” said Johnson.

The Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce and the Beacon presented breakfast and photos with Santa. Photos of children will be featured in the Christmas issue, which comes out Dec. 22, the Thursday before Christmas.